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2011 550 or 335 - any thoughts

Coming up on 10 years of love and sporadic financial misery with my E39. Been hearing some good buzz on the new 5's replacing the E60's.
Any thoughts out there. Can these match up to our cars for pure driving pleasure.

Oops - meant 550 or 535

Drove 550

I had a few idle hours out of town last summer; stopped by a BMW dealer, not looking ... but just wanted to see a new 5. Salesman hadn't driven a 550 2011 either ... he said "let's go!". (Twists my arm). Anyway, I was thrilled for the chance since Car and Driver lambasted the electric steering. I am, of course, a little older now. At 60, I still LOVE the intuitive and dynamic feel of the e39 530 ... and this new 550 was pretty close. What very little it lacked in the same steering feel, it gained in raw torque! WOW!! Also, IMHO, I thought the interior was an upgrade from the e60. Note: the 550 I drove was not a sport. I imagine the dynamic handling pkg (contains sport pkg) would make the car much more responsive. The "M sport pkg" might be even better yet. Hope this helps.

Thanks for sharing your impressions

If you think the 4.4l V8 had issues, look at the

cost of this water leak in the newer V-8 engine. Only BMW can come up with this type of engine construction. You need to almost dissassemble the engine to replace the water tube from front to back of engine. It took some independent to come up with a $1600 fix instead of $6000-$9000 dealer fix. This is increadable...

It's kind of sad, seeing BMW load up these >>

cars with all the fancy electronics, especially the stuff which requires that the car be "introduced" to a new battery! This is outrageous! I'm not aware of any other car on the market with this "feature".

BTW, at this point, only the dealer can perform this "introduction"; that means that you get to buy the overpriced BMW battery.

Don't get me started on the dipstick.

I will no doubt have to change brands when my car needs to be replaced.
Ed in San Jose. BMW CCA member since 1987 (Nr. 62319). Golden Gate Chapter. '97 540i 6 speed. Build Date 3/97. Aspensilber over Aubergine leather.

Solid Observations Ed

So what should I check out? I stopped by a MB dealer and kicked the tires of a few E350/E550s. Didn't bother to take one out for a drive. The lines weren't very clean and that hood ornament made me feel like an old man.

Re: If you think the 4.4l V8 had issues, look at the

What BMW has done to their cars with the totally asinine gizmos makes me livid. I wouldnt consider buying one for a min. When my car is used up I'll hunt down the little old lady with a 97 Fiver in her garage with low miles. Ill continue that until the gasoline or I am used up. (How about the genius behind proximity start-up in other makes! People are dying because their car is starting in an attached garage! What kind of moron thinks that any piece of equipment should be enabled to start itself? Gheesh)

New 5er more of a 7 ...

I'm considering an E9x, but not without some trepidation. Very nice to drive and there seems to be a reasonable amount of enthusiast DIY (ever look at the E60 board ... these guys wouldn't THINK about changing their own oil). Still leary ... no dipstick, battery "marriage" etc. This choice is going to take some thought ... but what else is there? Well, another E39 or E46 ... but then there's the problem of whether you get somebody's beloved mistress or much abused W****.

Re: nice review on the 550i

A nice 5 series with 400HP? I'm thinking of getting one... A 2003 M5 of course! One in Blue with the racer boy blue seats that's been lovingly maintained with the records to prove it... A friend has the 550 with the 6speed. Cool car, I just wouldn't want to either pay for it, or pay to have it worked on.

I'll write back later with the info we are looking

at an E24 this evening. Going to drive it, put it up on the lift and look it over.

I'll get back with you with the info. He really likes it. with his software you can only register 3 VINs, for 700.00 I think you get unlimited VIV registration. He can do a ton of stuff with that package including pulsing the ABS to change brake fluid.